Rebecca Sonnenshine will become showrunner and executive producer of what Netflix describes as a “reimagining” of the series based on the book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Other executive producers include Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel and Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions - which has been pushing for a reboot for years.
“It has been a long-held dream of mine to carry on my father’s legacy and adapt Wilder’s classic American stories for a 21st century audience in a way that brings together fans of both the books and the original television series,” said Friendly in a statement. “I am thrilled by our talented creative team led by Rebecca Sonnenshine who are bringing these beloved stories about family, community, and survival to longtime fans and new generations.”
“I fell deeply in love with these books when I was five years old,” added Sonnenshine. “They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix.”
The new version from CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studios is expected to follow Charles, his wife Caroline and their daughters Laura and Mary as they leave Wisconsin to settle in Independence, KS. There will be Osage characters as the first season is based on the book Little House on the Prairie.
Friendly, whose dad, Ed, bought TV and movie rights to the Wilder novels that led to the NBC drama in 1974, first sold the rights for a reboot in 2020 to Paramount TV Studios and Anonymous Content. “Fans are eager to see Little House on the Prairie come back to the screen, and we agree the time is right,” Friendly told EW at the time. “We feel optimistic that this will happen.”
It took a while, but the project finally made its way to Netflix about a year ago and was approved for a series just before the holidays.
“Little House on the Prairie has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many fans around the world, and we’re excited to share its enduring themes of hope and optimism with a fresh take on this iconic story,” said Jinny Howe, VP, Drama Series, Netflix. “Rebecca’s vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic.”
Until now, there have been surprisingly few attempts to dust off the Michael Landon series for a contemporary audience, save for a forgettable miniseries that aired as part of The Wonderful World of Disney in 2005 and a touring stage musical that ran from 2008-2010 . But interest in the franchise has never waned: reruns of the 1974-1983 series are still broadcast worldwide, with Peacock devoting 13.3 billion minutes of viewing time to the series last year.
This past March, Simi Valley hosted a three-day Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion and Festival. Thousands of people filled Rancho Santa Susana Park to celebrate Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls), Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), Bonnie Bartlett (Grace Edwards), Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) and Linwood Boomer (Adam Kendall) reminisce about the past. There was also a mini exhibit of Little House artifacts, such as copies of old scripts, set photos, Little House-inspired lunch boxes, and a '70s Panavision camera similar to the type used in the series. There was even a shirtless photo of Landon preparing for a shot.
“The show evokes so much emotion in people and made everybody feel,” Gilbert told the crowd. “So when they see us, they have the feels, and then the leftover feels from 50 years ago. Now they’re feeling it again through children and grandchildren. There’s this continuity and sense of family. This is a giant family reunion.”
